Hooked

I’ve been lurking down here deep,
In cold constant night,
Sometimes I swim up,
And spy the surface shapes,
Their silhouettes beneath the light,
I don’t get too close,
I heed the warnings,
Of the old and gone,
And tales of terror,
Of monsters from land,
But when I saw that shining dancing hook,
It was all I could see,
And a strange hypnotic hunger,
Had its way with me,
I gobbled your pearl - shell and all,
In one almighty piercing bite,
And darting pain through bleeding gum,
Soon replaced my dreamy delight,
As quick as all my wits awoke,
I dove and dove with no look back,
And swam and swam,
And felt the tearing steel on mouth,
And pull of line so long unending,
Barb in flesh with tightness bending,
Gills all gasping open gaping,
Fins so sore from mad descending,
Cheek all sliced from constant pulling,
I feel my struggle slowly ending,
Nervous bloody pulses sending,
Slipping back I think not knowing,
Dragging drifting redness flowing,
Sudden surges send me thrashing,
Lashing out at fears of going,
Off to die and then be eaten,
Tender mercilessly beaten,
Hung up high with eyes all popping,
Dripping dry in wind sails flapping,
Pecking birds squawking clapping,
Licking beaks ready for feasting,
Humans hurriedly steer returning,
To silent towns softly sleeping,
But I’m awake and still in water,
While you’re celebrating laughing,
One last surge I’m not done yet,
With all the crazy strength left in me,
I zip and zing like liquid lightning,
Snapping line too taught from tightening,
I’m free I’m free and fleeing swiftly,
Feeling lightness now upon me,
I wear my body piercing proudly,
And pray one day to find you paddling,
So I may turn the tide my captor,
And tear the page from your last chapter.